Aysgarth and West Burton Falls

Picture: Frank Knowles

Short Walk Sat 19th June. Around 5 miles. Aysgarth Village, Aysgarth Church Yard, West Burton Falls, Hestholme Bridge, Lower & Middle Aysgarth Falls to churchyard and down to Upper Falls.

O.S. Explorer Map OL30

Catch the Vintage Bus from Leyburn at 10.45 arrives Aysgarth Village 11.25. Vintage Bus back from Aysgarth Falls Old Aysgarth Station 15.30. Arrives Leyburn 16.05. Please note that bus passes are accepted on the bus, but a donation would be appreciated.

This walk is suitable for anyone coming on the first train from Leeming to Leyburn.

1. Walk down the lane where the War Memorial is, passing the Methodist Chapel. At the end of the lane, opposite Field House, go through a stile in the wall and then angle right to go through another stile and onto a walled footpath. Go forward over several meadows going through gap stiles in the walls. A. Come out onto a minor road, which you cross, to go into Aysgarth Church Yard. B. With the church on your left take the right hand footpath which comes out onto the Leyburn Road.

2. Carefully cross the road and go through the stile in the wall opposite. Go forward through stiles and gates in the walls, coming out at Eshington Bridge. Cross the bridge and then take the footpath on your right, over meadows, to meet the Bishopdale Road. Carefully cross the road and go up the steps, coming out in West Burton Village. Turn right into the centre of the village and then left over the green and right, by the mill, to visit West Burton Falls.

3. Cross the packhorse bridge by the falls and walk up the hill, taking the left hand path, to come out at a metalled lane, Morpeth Gate. Turn left and follow the lane until you see a sign on your right to Edgley, turn right here and follow the footpath, keeping the follies high above you on your right. C. Pass the buildings of Sorrelsykes Park which will be on your left. Just after the buildings look for a gap stile on the left, which brings you out onto the West Burton road at Edgley.

4. Cross the road and take the footpath opposite going right. This brings you out at Hestleholme Bridge which you carefully cross. Turn right straight after the bridge, to walk on field paths back to Aysgarth churchyard passing the Middle and Lower Falls. D. Turn right after the church, going down the mill steps, to see the Upper Falls and catch the 3.30 Vintage Bus from Aysgarth Old Station. E.

Risk Assessment. An easy walk, suitable for beginners, with a reasonable amount of fitness, as there are a few steep bits and plenty of stiles to negotiate!

Points of Interest

Turner visited both West Burton and Aysgarth Falls on Sunday 28th July 1816. After visiting West Burton Falls he rode over the packhorse bridge, and eventually crossed over Hestleholme Bridge, approaching the lower and middle falls at Aysgarth, the same way as we do on our walk.

Note the way that the posts are rounded on the stiles to prevent ladies tearing their Sunday best clothes on the way to church.
The rood screen in Aysgarth Church was carried by 20 men from Jervaulx Abbey, to prevent it from being destroyed during Henry V111’s dissolution of the monasteries.

These follies were built in the 19th century by the workers of Sorrelsykes Park.

This was the route Turner took; he is thought to have forded the river just below the Lower Falls.

Yore Mill was built for wool spinning. It burnt down and a much larger mill was built in 1853. The red shirts for Garibaldi’s army were said to have been made here.